Mode Competition and Collision Effects in Gaseous Optical Masers

Abstract

This paper presents theoretical computer curves of the mode intensities and beat frequencies of a gaseous optical maser for oscillation on two axial modes, after the theory of Lamb. A modified form of Lamb's theory which includes collision effects is also given, and a comparison of experimental and theoretical curves as a function of pressure is made. The principal conclusions are that the modified theory shows good agreement with experiment and that the collision-induced asymmetry in the optical-field-atom interaction curve plays an important role in influencing optical-maser behavior.